Excruciating Heat experienced across the nation; 56 deaths were reported due to it

India experienced a severe heatwave from March to May, resulting in 56 deaths and nearly 25,000 suspected heat stroke cases.

May was particularly brutal, with temperatures in Delhi and Rajasthan reaching 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) and 46 heat-related deaths reported. Cyclone Remal struck eastern India, and heavy rains in Assam led to 14 fatalities. Additionally, 33 people, including election officials, succumbed to suspected heatstroke in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Odisha during India’s general election. Data from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) highlighted May as the worst month, with 19,189 suspected heat stroke cases. The Hindu suggested that the total death toll could be as high as 80 when including suspected cases. In Madhya Pradesh almost 5,000 heat stroke cases were reported. However, relief is on the horizon as the early arrival of the monsoon in Kerala is expected to mitigate the severe heatwave conditions.

Odisha has been particularly affected, with 20 confirmed sunstroke deaths over three days. Authorities reported 99 suspected sunstroke deaths since Friday, with 42 cases previously reported. Most fatalities occurred in Bolangir, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Sonepur, Sundergarh, and Balasore. Chief Secretary Pradeep Kumar Jena and Special Relief Commissioner Satyabrata Sahu have directed district administrations to adhere to the heatwave advisory and ensure post-mortem examinations for suspected sunstroke deaths to facilitate the act of grace sanctions. A joint inquiry by local revenue and medical officers is mandated to confirm the cause of each death. In Sri Lanka, heavy monsoon rains caused flooding and landslides, resulting in at least 15 deaths, as reported by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). This intensely hot summer across South Asia is exacerbated by human-driven climate change, contributing to the region’s extreme weather patterns.

[Image Source: IndiaToday]